Under CA’s Doubtful Bowling Action Procedure, a bowler must undergo testing after being mentioned for a suspected illegal bowling action by umpires three times in a domestic season. Gannon was mentioned four times this season, including twice in the Bupa Sheffield Shield final.

Firstly a disclaimer, good readers: I own an alarming amount of cricket books, memorabilia and tat associated with the game and thus it is a bit rich for me to be passing judgement on the people who buy the items that follow.

Hard to believe Rusty actually shelled out good money for Brett Lee's Stump Scam, just as it is equally hard to believe he included a classic Qantas bag in such dubious company.

Six-one: that's the ratio of Indian to Australian centuries at Chennai, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. Since Michael Clarke battled his way to three figures on the first day of the series, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay have done likewise, the last named twice.

It’s true that most everyone is calling for Hussey, North, Katich & Ponting to have a good hard look at themselves, but apart from Our Phil Hughes, who in the Shield is a ready replacement? No one seems to be “knocking the door down”, as they say.

After an honourable loss in the Second Test, a galvanising distraction over player sackings, and with a full and fit squad to pick from, Australia should comfortably win the Third Test in Mohali. Look out, India. (And look out, England. Australia is timing its run to perfection.)

FOUR players have been sensationally axed from selection for the Australian team to face India in the third Test in Mohali. Vice-captain Shane Watson, batsman Usman Khawaja and fast bowlers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson will not be chosen for the match after failing to complete a task set for the side.

The team was asked by coach Mickey Arthur last Tuesday night to do a presentation on how the side could improve after losing the first two matches, and give it to him by Saturday.

Clarke's astonishing recent record in spite of his top four's malfunctionings seems like a case of the right batsman in the right place at the right time.

There is every chance Clarke's success at five will not be replicated at four; a sentiment no doubt echoed here at AGB Towers. Gideon touches wood:

Clarke has attained such a pitch of batting proficiency that there seems little reason he cannot make a fist of No 4. His poor record there seems almost another batsman ago. But here's a disturbing thought: what if he should fail? Then Australia might be 3-97, and the next man in would not be Michael Clarke.

Apropos Clarke's pros & cons, here is an email exchange from last week:

RK:

One thing I will say is that TT and I will have to eat our words re M Clarke. I will not refer to him as a flat track specialist any longer, without him over the past year or so where would our ranking be?

TT:

Let's wait to see how Clarke goes in the Ashes before letting him off the hook.

He has cleaned up against sh1t attacks over the last couple of seasons, and he has always been good against spin, hence his success in India.

He is our best batsman at the moment, and by a long way, but he is a "nicker" against good fast bowling and will struggle in England if the ball moves. Watch him flick at corridor balls, feet nowhere, if Anderson & his chummies dart the ball around.

Yes, he is propping up our ranking, but that is not saying much when you consider were are really a 3-4-5 rank side and are a mile off 1-2, statistical anomalies notwithstanding.

GC:

Come on!! Clarke should be embraced by cricket lovers, especially Australians, and not subjected to "you wait and see" comments. He has a batting average ( over very many tests ) that is outstanding and is doing well as a skipper. We should unite and get behind our leader!

We need more West Aussies in the team, that's the problem!

TT:

Are you working for Cricket Australia, Geoff? We could use your spin in India.

A glib reply, but Clarke is a "nicker" and, for that matter, a lemming, even if recent form would suggest the diametric opposite. And yet Geoff's an old friend whose opinion I value - not to mention a fellow cricket premiership teammate - his comment made me wonder whether I go in too hard.

Not that it is a sports fan's responsibility to unquestioningly boost the team s/he barracks for. I agonise over the Australian Test side more than any other team (even the Demons) and often hope Tests end quick to cut short anguish. The sense of relief when Australia closes out a Test is palpable, and when they win a tight one the high lasts for days.

It is pretty obvious, though, that I lean more to NY Yankee-style fans, who slam their own players at the merest hint of failure, than, say, mindless cheerleaders like the Fanatics. Recently Ed Cowan, interviewed on SEN, compared the Indian fans and media to the Australian fans and media: the former "support" while the latter "snipe".

Is criticising the Aussies merely a coping mechanism? Could be. My own touch wood? Or a pisstake? After all, I am addicted to sharp remarks with my tongue tightly inserted right up my cheek. Still, I flatter - delude? - myself I am just keeping it real in the face of a barrage of publicity, spin, bullshit and wild opinions.

Which implies I think I know what I am talking about, even if I am an outsider. I can hear Ian Botham sneering "you have no idea - you never played Test cricket."

Anyway, since he became skipper Clarke has cashed in big time on his lucky breaks, which sets him apart from his mates in the Australian team, who seem unable to convert chances into big scores. Fingers crossed he can continue to do so, because at some stage his luck will run out and unless he has assistance we will go from filth to utter filth.

Mitchell Claydon has a point: the Sheffield Shield is currently shy of gun cricketers; especially batsmen. The lack of gnarly old pros hurts, too; pretty sure Spanky Roebuck made that point several years ago. And you will struggle to find a cricket fan who thinks Australia will win the Ashes. On the other hand, Claydon is a regular for Durham, but only plays grade cricket in Sydney. I guess he's too old:

Out of the five officials on duty in the Second Test in Hyderabad - Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Broad, Ravi Underarm and Subrat Das - Dharmasena's CricInfo profile page has the most "likes".